Boat ramp



W. D. YOUNG Sept. 1, 1964 BOAT RAMP Filed Aug. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM D.YOUN6 ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1964 w. D. YOUNG BOAT RAMP Filed Aug. 50, 196i 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM D. YOUNG ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,146,599 BOAT RAMP William D. Young, 950 NE. 20th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Aug. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 135,017 3 Claims. (Ci. 616'7) This invention appertains to boats and more particularly to a novel ramp and drp dock for facilitating the pulling of a small boat out of the water and the supporting thereof in a safe, elevated position when the boat is not in use, and in a correct position for convenient and easy launching.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a combination ramp and dry dock for small boats, which will be of an exceptionally simple and durable construction, one that will be economical and easy to make and one which can be conveniently installed on a shoreline or other desired place.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a boat ramp for installation on a shoreline or the like, which is especially designed to be built or assembled by the user, the various parts of the hardware or fittings being constructed for compact nesting in a shipping carton and for convenient connection with timbers, the timbers being of well know dimensions (preferably 2 x 4) for quick purchase at any lumber yard.

A further important object of my invention, is to provide means for reducing the number of attaching and reinforcing brackets, rollers etc. needed, by the use of novel combination securing, reinforcing and roller brackets, the brackets being of such a design to facilitate the joining of the longitudinal stringers and the cross braces or spreaders together and for reinforcing such stringers and spreaders at their joints and for supporting the boat engaging rollers at the desired angles.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of spool rollers and wheel rollers, whereby the keel of the boat will be first engaged and centered by the spool rollers and second by the angularly disposed wheel rollers at the sides of the hull between the keel and gunwales.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means attached directly to the ramp and forming anchoring means therefor, for pulling the boat up on the ramp and on the rollers.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a knock-down kit for purchase by boat owners whereby such owners can easily construct, assemble and build their own boat ramps.

With these and other objects, in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a kit packed and ready for purchase by a boat owner;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a completed boat ramp and showing one type of installation thereof, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of my novel completed boat ramp;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view through the ramp, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the figure being taken on a larger scale than FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the ramp taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating more particularly the novel construction of the combination securing, reinforcing and roller brackets, and

Patented Sept. 1, 1964 ice FIGURE 6 is a detail fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the ramp, taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view also illustrating the novel construction of a combination bracket.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter R generally indicates one preferred form of my completed ramp for facilitating the hauling of a boat out of the water and in a safe elevated position for convenient further use. A boat, indicated by the reference character B has been partially shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 4, to illustrate the pulling of a boat out of the water, and the engagement of the novel spool and wheel rollers with the desired parts of the boat. The boat B can be of any desired make or size and includes a rounded hull 10 having a keel 11. The bow 12 of the boat has secured thereto an eye 13 for a purpose, which will later appear.

The hardware for the ramp and dock R is of a special and novel construction, whereby to not only facilitate the joining of the timbers of the ramp together, and to reinforce the entire ramp, but to also facilitate the nesting thereof for shipping in a carton.

Particular stress is laid on and attention is now directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, in which an open carton C is shown, and in which is nested the hardware H, which will be later described in detail.

The ramp R includes longitudinally extending spaced 7 stringers or side rails 14 and 15 and equidistantly spaced transversely extending rails or spreaders 16. The stringers 14 and 15 and rails 16 are preferably made from 2 x 4 timbers and these 2 x 4s can be readily purchased at any lumber yard and cut to length by the maker, according to instructions supplied with the kit shown in FIG. 1. Connected centrally with the foremost spreader 16 is a tongue 17. This tongue extends forwardly of the ramp proper and is securedly nailed or bolted to an upright or anchor post 18. The inner or water end of the ramp also has bolted or secured thereto at its opposite sides, depending short anchor legs 19. These legs are adapted to engage the bottom of a lake, river or other body of water. The tongue 17, the anchor post 18 and the legs 19 can likewise be formed from 2 x 4s and cut to a length by the maker according to the instructions, as previously mentioned.

The means for facilitating the riding of the boat up on the ramp includes novel spool rollers 20 and 21, and novel wheel rollers 22. The wheel rollers 22 are supported in a desired correct angular position by means of the combination joining, reinforcing and roller supporting brackets 23 heretofore mentioned. The spool roller 22 is of a greater length than the spool roller 21 and these rollers are located at the longitudinal center of the ramp and at the water end of the ramp. Both rollers are preferably, but not necessarily formed from hard rubber. Each roller includes a cylindrical body portion 24 and end tapered circular flanges 25. The widest roller 20, is arranged on and is carried by the innermost spreader 16 and this roller is preferably disposed just above the water level. The roller 21 is located on the spreader 16 next to the innermost or first spreader 16. Each spool roller is rotatably mounted on an axle or bolt 26 which extends axially through the roller and the ends of the axles or bolts are carried by angle brackets 27 which are securely fastened to the spreaders 16. As the bow 12 of the boat at its keel portion hits the first spool roller 20, the end tapered flanges 25 tend to center the keel and the entire boat, and as the boat is further drawn up on the ramp, the second spool roller functions in the same manner. The rollers 20 and 21 function to not only center and facilitate the initial rolling of the boat on the ramp, but to also effectively prevent any damage to the bottom of the boat.

The wheel rollers 22 and brackets 23 are arranged directly at the meeting joints of the longitudinal stringers 14 and 15 and spreaders 16, and as heretofore brought out, the brackets 23 form means for reinforcing the ramp for uniting the stringers and spreaders and supporting the rollers 22. Each bracket 23 and each roller 22 is of an identical construction, and consequently, only one bracket and one roller will be described in minute detail.

Each bracket 23 includes a top flange 28 and a right angularly extending depending flange 29. The top flange 28 preferably has a width equal to the width of a stringer and the vertical flange 29 has a height preferably equal to the height of a stringer. Formed on the bracket at the juncture of the top flange 28 and vertical flange 29 is an inwardly projecting, angularly disposed pivot ear 3%. Formed on the vertical flange 29 at the central portion thereof is an inwardly extending vertical attaching flange 31 and this flange is continued upwardly to form a reinforcing web 32 for the car 30 and this web merges with the pivot car 30 and forms a reinforcement therefor.

In constructing the ramp, the stringers are set in their proper spaced relation and are marked at the correct points for receiving the brackets 23. The brackets are now set on the stringers at the marked points and are securely fastened thereto by screws 33 which extend through the top flange 23 and into the stringers, and by bolts 34 which extend through the vertical flange 24 and the stringers. To complete the ramp the Spreaders 16 are placed in position between the stringers with their terminals abutting up against the vertical flanges 29 and the attaching flanges 31. Bolts 35 are now employed for securing the Spreaders 16 firmly in place and these bolts extend through the attaching flanges 31 and through these Spreaders. It can be seen that the brackets 23 form rugged construction and bracing members.

The rollers 22 are preferably formed from hard rubber having a hub sleeve 36. An axle bolt 37 extends through the hub sleeve and through the ear 30. The angular position of the rollers 22 is such that the same effectively engage the rounded sides of the hull of the boat B above the keel 11 and these rollers 22 in combination with the spool rollers 20 and 21 form an efficient means for supporting the boat on the ramp and for facilitating the pulling of the boat up on the ramp and the launching of the boat from the ramp.

In order to facilitate the pulling of the boat up on the ramp and the gentle launching of the boat from the ramp, I employ a winch 38. The winch 38 is preferably of a simple and economical construction, and hence includes a supporting bracket 39 and a drum or reel 40. The drum or reel 40 is rotatably mounted on the bracket 39 and the axle of the drum has firmly secured thereto an operating crank 41. The winch 38 is rigidly bolted to the upper end of the anchor post 18. A line or cable 42 is wound upon the drum 40 and can be attached to the body of the boat by means of the eye 13. Obviously, by winding up the line or cable on the drum, the boat can be drawn up on the ramp and by turning the drum in a reverse direction, the boat can be gently slid down the ramp. If desired, a pawl and ratchet, not shown, can be used on the winch to hold the drum against accidental turning movement in one direction.

Obviously, the ramp can be used and installed in different manners, and in FIG. 2 I have shown one way of installing and using the ramp. In FIG. 2 the ramp is used 4 on the shoreline and the post 18 is firmly embedded in the bank alongside of the water. The legs 19 engage the bed of the body of water. Another installation which in some instances may be desirable, is to place the ramp alongside of a stationary dock and to secure the post 18 directly to such dock.

Now referring back to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it can be seen that the rollers 22 and their brackets 23 are placed in the carton, with the brackets innermost and the rollers outermost. The brackets are placed together in pairs with each bracket in a pair in a reverse direction. This permits the expeditious and convenient nesting of the brackets in the carton C. The loose hardware, such as the axles, nuts, bolts etc., can be firmly packed in small cartons indicated by the reference characters 43 and 44. The carton C is of a desired shape so that the same will snugly receive the cartons 43 and 44 and the rollers 22 and their brackets 23. The spool roller 20 and 21 are placed in the corners of the carton and these rollers then function as buffers to hold the brackets 23 in place against rattling.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A boat ramp and dock comprising a body including spaced longitudinally extending rails and spaced transversely extending rails, combination reinforcing, securing and roller brackets for joining the transverse rails to the longitudinal rails, said brackets being secured to the longitudinal rails and receiving the terminals of the transverse rails, means securing the transverse rails to the brackets inclined boat side engaging rollers carried by the brackets, spool rollers carried by certain of the transverse rails at the inner end of the body, legs on the inner end of the body for engaging the bed of a body of water, a longitudinally extending tongue carried by the forward end of the body and projecting a material distance forwardly thereof, an anchor post secured to the tongue, and said anchor post projecting above the body, and a winch on the upper end of said post having a line for connection with a boat to be hauled up the ramp.

2. In a combination boat ramp and dock including longitudinally extending spaced rails and transversely extending spaced rails, and means for joining said longitudinal and transverse rails including brackets, each Of said brackets embodying a top flange for engagement with the upper edge of a longitudinal rail and a depending flange for engagement with the inner side of a longitudinal rail, an inwardly projecting attaching flange, the terminal of a transverse rail fitting against the attaching flange and depending flange, fastening means extendin through the attaching flange and the terminal of a transverse rail, each bracket also including an inwardly inclined ear, the attaching flange being extended up said ear to form a reinforcing web, and an inclined boat engaging roller rotatably carried by the ear.

3. A combination boat ramp and dock as defined in claim 1, and each of said spool rollers including a cylindrical body and tapered circular end flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 321,916 Staples July 7, 1885 2,843,261 Eppler July 15, 1958 2,933,328 McIntyre et al Apr. 17, 1960 2,964,175 Nolte Dec. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 422,090 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1935 

1. A BOAT RAMP AND DOCK COMPRISING A BODY INCLUDING SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RAILS AND SPACED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING RAILS, COMBINATION REINFORCING, SECURING AND ROLLER BRACKETS FOR JOINING THE TRANSVERSE RAILS TO THE LONGITUDINAL RAILS, SAID BRACKETS BEING SECURED TO THE LONGITUDINAL RAILS AND RECEIVING THE TERMINALS OF THE TRANSVERSE RAILS, MEANS SECURING THE TRANSVERSE RAILS TO THE BRACKETS INCLINED BOAT SIDE ENGAGING ROLLERS CARRIED BY THE BRACKETS, SPOOL ROLLERS CARRIED BY CERTAIN OF THE TRANS- 